Bill Overview
Title: PAW Act
Description: This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a working group relating to best practices and federal guidance for animals in emergencies and disasters. Specifically, the working group shall (1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities working to address the needs of household pets, service and assistance animals, and captive animals in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and (2) review best practices and federal guidance on sheltering and evacuation planning relating to the needs of such pets and animals.
Sponsors: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with household pets, service and assistance animals, and handlers of captive animals
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill aims to improve emergency preparedness and response for animals during disasters.
- Household pet ownership rates are high worldwide, with significant numbers in the US.
- Service and assistance animals are critical for many individuals with disabilities.
- Enhanced emergency planning for animals can indirectly impact pet owners and handlers worldwide.
Reasoning
- The PAW Act focuses on improving emergency preparedness for pets, service animals, and captive animals, potentially having a wide-reaching positive impact on animal welfare.
- The high pet ownership rate in the US indicates a large target population, though not all owners will be directly involved in disasters requiring this policy.
- Individuals with service animals may experience a significant impact, as these animals are crucial for their wellbeing and independence.
- Handlers of captive animals, such as zookeepers and aquarium staff, would find policy guidance valuable but less relevant to personal wellbeing.
- The general public may not see a direct impact from the PAW Act unless they are involved in animal evacuation during emergencies.
Simulated Interviews
Veterinarian (Orlando, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a veterinarian, this policy is crucial for ensuring that animals are safely evacuated during emergencies.
- My concern is the implementation and uniformity between different disaster response teams across states.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is great for ensuring the safety of pets in emergencies.
- Not sure how much it will impact me unless there's a major disaster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could significantly help in emergencies, especially during evacuations with my service dog.
- I hope all public shelters become more accessible to people with service animals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Zookeeper (New York, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The PAW Act will provide much-needed structure and best practices for handling animals during disasters.
- Our zoo already follows strict protocols, but this could enhance collaboration with other entities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Emergency Management Coordinator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can fill a critical gap in emergency planning by including pets and service animals.
- Effective coordination with federal and local agencies is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Pet Store Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My business could benefit from more standardized evacuation protocols for exotic pets.
- I hope this leads to better educational resources for pet owners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an important move for people like me who rely on assistance animals every day.
- Policies should ensure that evacuation centers are accessible and safe for both animals and their owners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Vet Technician (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The PAW Act should improve evacuation procedures for pets, which is great for shelters.
- I'm curious about how it will be rolled out across different states.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Zoo Director (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having standardized guidelines will be beneficial as it aligns with international best practices for animal care.
- Collaboration with other institutions will be crucial, but I'm optimistic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Police Officer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will ensure that pets aren't left behind, which is a huge relief during evacuations.
- It's good to see pets being considered in emergency strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Existing gaps in emergency planning for animals may result in higher initial costs due to the need for comprehensive systems.
- The involvement of multiple stakeholders can complicate implementation and require additional coordination efforts.
- Adoption of these measures may help save lives, both animal and human, thus justifying the costs.